How the Ice King Became my Doting Billionaire Husband

From a young age, Morwenna always envied other kids who had parents constantly fussing over them. She couldn't understand how anyone could find that annoying.

Throughout the conversation, Stuart remained quiet, listening attentively without interrupting. What had started as a pleasant mood gradually turned somber. Unlike Morwenna, Stuart wasn't as naive. He was well aware of Grandpa Norbert's failing health. Norbert's sudden chattiness felt like he was settling his affairs.

Realizing he might have said too much, Norbert paused, "Alright, doesn't Wenna have school? It's getting late; Stuart, could you drive her back?"

Glancing at the time, Morwenna hurriedly replied, "Okay, I should head back to school then. I'll come visit you during the holidays, Grandpa."

As Morwenna and Stuart walked away, Norbert called out, "Wenna."

Turning back, Morwenna asked patiently, "Yes, Grandpa?"

"Just... take care at school."

"I will, Norbert Hetfield. Goodbye for now."

"Good...bye."

Watching Morwenna leave, Norbert coughed a few times and quickly wiped away the blood from his mouth with a handkerchief. Goodbye, indeed. Perhaps, forever. It felt like Morwenna's departure took away the last of Norbert's vitality. Norbert, who had been fine moments ago, struggled to stand. Keegan rushed to help him up.

Lurking nearby, Lily watched the scene unfold with cold detachment. Seeing Norbert being helped back to his room, she muttered under her breath, "Old coot, why won't he just hurry up and die!"

She harbored a grudge over a precious family heirloom, wishing Norbert would pass away sooner. It wasn't that she was heartless; it was just that Norbert had insisted on holding onto his shares until his death leaving her to curse her own great-grandfather.

Lily retreated to her room and closed the door behind her. In the corner, holding a glass of water, stood Ryan, frozen in shock. He had heard everything. He heard his cousin wishing for their grandfather's death. His brother had once poisoned their grandfather, and now his cousin wished him dead. But why?

Grandpa had always been kind to everyone. Everything they had wasn't a birthright but the result of Grandpa's lifetime of hard work, allowing them to live a life of comfort. Why couldn't anyone else see the gratitude they owed, except his sister-in-law? Was it really as his cousin said, that they carried a tainted legacy?

Young and confused, Ryan couldn't understand it. Ryan didn't grow up in the Hetfield family. Born to a superstition, his mother Sabrina had nearly died giving birth to him, and thinking Ryan brought bad luck, had him sent to live in the countryside for years, raised by a nanny.

Phineas Hetfield and Sabrina focused all their attention on their eldest son, Reuben, grooming him for the future. It wasn't until Ryan was in the third grade that he was brought back to the Hetfield family. Ryan's relationship with his parents and brother was always distant.

Now, not knowing whom to turn to, pale-faced, Ryan ran outside. He didn't know what to do. His parents had told him that Grandpa was dying, to stay by his side to show filial piety, in hopes of inheriting some shares. But he didn't want Grandpa to die, nor did he care for any shares.

Ryan crouched by the vegetable patch in the yard, under the dim light, watching ants at work.

"Little master? What are you doing out here so late? Don't tell me you're planning to sneak off with my slingshot again. Don't even think about it; I had a hard time convincing Grandpa and Mrs. Hetfield to let me keep it."

Ryan, taken aback by the sudden interruption, turned to see Orson, his face a picture of innocent earnestness.